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Sagaponack - East End Village - Hamptons New York one of the richest places to live in the U.S. -a place Belle French has not called home in eight years when she left to go to The Royal College of Art in London. Having received her master’s in art history and curator studies, Belle spent two of those six years interning at various museums in London to finish her degree and now was returning home. Home being a relative term, the home or rather estate she was heading too was owned by Mr. Caelan Gold. Belle grew up in the staff apartments that were adjacent to the property, her father Moe having been Mr. Gold’s long time chauffeur. One of the stipulations of working for Mr. Gold was to live on the property so as to be available at a moment’s notice. Belle couldn’t even count how many times her father was roused in the middle of the night to drive Mr. Gold to some urgent business. Mr. Gold wasn’t unreasonable however he did pay his staff well for agreeing to his demands.
Belle turned on Sagg Street and could see the grounds and security gate in the distance. She missed this place, though she spent little time inside the estate itself, the property ran along the ocean with beautiful views. The home had everything a person of could want; a panoramic view of the ocean, wine cellar, roof top deck, living room with a limestone fireplace, but Belle’s favorite was the library media room. A place she, Baelfire and Ruby would occupy a lot, though Ruby preferred the hot tub. Ruby was the granddaughter of Mrs. Lucas, the cook of the estate, or Granny as everyone called her. Ruby also grew up in the staff apartments and both she and Bae Gold were Belle’s best friends.
When he was at home Caelan liked his privacy and rarely was seen by Belle. Bae would tell Belle that his father wasn’t good with people so he avoided small talk and could come across gruff. However when he was away Mr. Gold didn’t mind if the staff used some of the home’s features. That was the only time Belle or Ruby entered the house, most of the time it was Bae hanging with them at Belle’s apartment with one of Bae’s best friend Graham Hunter.
As Belle punched in the security code she knew that would signal her arrival. She came a day early to surprise everyone but truthfully she just needed to be home again. So many things changed in those eight years. Bae was working for his father, and had a four year old son with his girlfriend Emma Swan; Belle couldn’t wait to meet Emma and Henry. Mr. Gold had offered a job; at Granny’s request to Ruby to do housekeeping while she attended a local school.
Belle was nervous and excited about seeing everyone. Right before she left for college Belle almost confessed to Ruby of her infatuation with Mr. Gold. Now that she was home Belle was glad she kept that secret. Certain that at twenty-seven Belle had long out grown her crush for Caelan Gold.
Belle beamed as she pulled into the car port. Just as she figured Jefferson alerted the others of her arrival.
“Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell me that you had arrived, I would have picked you up at the airport.”
Belle didn’t let go of her father giving him a big kiss on the cheek. “I wanted to drive papa, I needed to get familiar with driving on the left side again. Plus I really wanted to surprise you. “
Moe pulled his daughter into another hug. “I feel like I missed so much while you were gone – I missed you so very much. You are so grown up and beautiful just like you mother.”
Jefferson put down the luggage he took from Belle’s trunk and stepped in to give Belle a hug. He practically lifted her up in the process. “We missed you around here love. I think Ruby most of all. But I am so glad to have you back the place needs to be brightened up.” Belle never knew exactly what Jefferson’s job was, he was basically Mr. Gold’s assistant as he seemed to hold so many titles and functions. When Belle once asked what he did exactly his reply was- if I tell you I’ll have to kill you. He had an odd sense of humor and was the only person not a relative that lived in the larger home. She had heard from Ruby that he was dating a Dr. Victor Whale, and it seemed serious.
Ruby pushed Jefferson out of the way grabbing Belle and leading her to her father’s apartment. “Come Belle - Let Jefferson carry your luggage into my place – well our place now; I have your bedroom ready. I want to hear all about what you’ve been doing. I know you have presents as well so we need to take care of that. Did you meet any men? You look so beautiful; I’m sure you had all sorts of men lining up to get together with...” Noticing Belle’s father was with them Ruby clamped her mouth shut. “Good thing you’re staying with me, you can tell me about that later tonight.”
Belle nodded already exhausted by everyone’s attention. Especially Ruby who was excited enough for everyone. “I do have gifts. But I probably won’t get to them until after I unpack. Where is Bae? I was hoping to see him and meet Emma and Henry.”
Jefferson answered as he and Moe carried so more luggage in. “He’s at the house. He had to run through some paperwork since Mr. Gold is out of town and said he’d be over in about half hour.”
“What are Emma and Henry like? I imagine that at four he’s tearing the place apart.”
Ruby rolled he eyes and laughed. “Yeah he’s full of energy and I’m always cleaning up after him when his parents aren’t around. He’s a sweet kid, but what can you expect from Bae. And Emma is stunning, and nice. She’s a good match for Bae and she seems to tow the line and he needs that. Been spoiled too long Granny always says.”
Not that Bae was really spoiled. He wanted for nothing, part of that was the nasty divorce his father and mother had. Mr. Gold felt guilty. The other part was Mr. Gold grew up in Glasgow and worked his way up and never wanted his son to feel life beat him down. At least that’s what Granny had told both Belle and Ruby before.
By the time Bae, Emma and Henry had arrived Belle had told them everything about her overseas college experience, about her decision to search for a position at one of the many museums in New York City, or perhaps collect on behalf of a company or private collector. She had Henry’s gift waiting for him as they entered. Giving Bae a huge hug and being introduced to Emma, Belle then bent handing Henry a gift. “Hi Henry, I’m Belle. I’m best friends with your dad, I heard you like fairy tales and I’m a big reader so I went to where Winnie the Pooh lived and went on his adventures with Christopher Robin…”
Before she could finish Henry had opened the box and saw a special edition of the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh but also an adventuring kit.
Henry beamed and gave Belle a sloppy hug and kiss as his response as well as a “Tank you” In the smallest of voices.
As the evening wore on Jefferson took a sleepy Henry back to the house so Emma and Bae could chat with Belle.
“So I heard your father is out of town. How is he doing?” Belle had promised herself not to ask about Bae’s father. She would bring him up a lot before she left for college when she had a crush, but now she decided her asking was more out of curiosity. Belle always was trying to figure the man out; he could seem cold, but caring at the same time. He confused her.
“He’s flying home tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll want to hear about college once he’s settled in again. He seems to have spent the past couple of months away from home almost deliberately.”
Emma interrupted Bae rolling her eyes. “Yeah well Cora seems to have him on a leash.”
“That’s not true Emma.”
Belle looked between the two very confused as she saw Ruby nodding to Emma in agreement. Something unspoken between them in regards to Cora. “Who is Cora? Is she with your dad?” Belle felt a twinge of disappointment at the thought.
“She’s a widow of a big hedge funds investor. She’s been dating my dad for some time and they -” Bae pointed to both Emma and Ruby “seem to think that she’s bad news. I mean she’s snobby but she’s not terrible.”
“Expect that she almost had Leroy fired. That was pretty terrible.” Belle could tell by the tone that Ruby was no fan of this Cora.
“What happened with Leroy?”
“When he was fixing the security gate he forgot to install the code for Cora to use and she waited for twenty five minutes before anyone came to open the gate for her.” Before Belle could ask Bae continued. “Leroy had disconnected the buzzer too so no one knew she was pressing it. The only reason we found out is that Granny was going out to purchase some items for dinner.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t try and get Granny dismissed as well. She had a list of what she wanted Granny to cook for dinner, but Granny told her it would need to be another night as she already planned out the courses. That did not go over well.”
Bae look at Emma as she finished and shrugged. “Well it all worked out. Dad told Cora that both were indispensable to him.”
“I think that was Jefferson’s influence; she has your dad wrapped around her finger. I mean I get it he’s been alone a long time. And Cora’s daughter is working for him.” Emma looked frustrated with Bae so Ruby decided to give more scoop to Belle.
“Cora is manipulative. I really think she is trying to marry Gold for status and to accumulate more wealth. She’s playing him, but Bae doesn’t see that. Her daughter Regina seems nice enough, nothing like her mother anyway.”
“I don’t see Bae’s father being easily manipulated like that. Are you sure is it possible she’s just a snob as Bae said?” Belle wasn’t sure what to think. Part of her didn’t like Cora on principle.
Bae was nodding that Belle had it right. “I agree my dad isn’t so easily deceived. Let Belle draw her own conclusions about Cora ok ladies.”
“Bae after what happened I think your father is an easy target and Cora sensed that and latched on.”
“What happed?” Alarmed that something happened that was kept a secret from Belle.
“We didn’t want to tell you this Belle; over a year ago I was in a car accident. I was visiting with my mother and another driver lost control of their car on an icy patch. I was placed in a medically induced coma to help speed recovery for about a week. - My mother however didn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come right home.”
“That’s why Belle. Moe decided that telling you wouldn’t be right and Ruby agreed. There was nothing you could have done and you needed to keep up with you course load. That’s why you didn’t hear from me for so long.” Bae reached over to take Belle’s hand seeing how distressed she was. “There’s more Belle. My mother never took my dad off as the one to make her medical decisions; he was still on her Living Will. He had to decide to take her off life support. “
“Belle, Caelan has not been the same man since. I think he feels guilty.”
“Emma is right. We’ve known Mr. Gold for a long time. She wasn’t going to make it and the doctors were just prolonging it. He’s been beating himself over it for quite some time. Granny said that he needs someone to bring him back to life after almost losing Bae and what happened with Milah.”
Belle watched Ruby as she felt tears about to fall. “Granny doesn’t think Cora can do that?”
“No, and Bae only likes her because she’s makes Gold leave his work everyone once in a while. He immersed himself in his work and has yet to not to let go of things.”
As the foursome finished talking Belle bid everyone a goodnight and headed to her room to prepare for bed. Tomorrow she’d see Mr. Gold again and found herself anxious over it.